U.S. patent number 7,151,541 [Application Number 11/031,873] was granted by the patent office on 2006-12-19 for moveable animated display device.
Invention is credited to Rufus Butler Seder.
United States Patent |
7,151,541 |
Seder |
December 19, 2006 |
Moveable animated display device
Abstract
A moveable animated display device for displaying a plurality of
images with a pressure plate carrier, a pressure plate retained in
relation to the pressure plate carrier, a plurality of coded
images, a plurality of shutter elements slidably retained in
relation to the plurality of coded images, and at least one biasing
formation, such as a crease, in the pressure plate for inducing a
biasing of the pressure plate toward the pressure plate carrier.
The display device can have the pressure plate slidably retained
relative to the pressure plate carrier, and the biasing formation
can be parallel or orthogonal to a path of travel of the pressure
plate in relation to the pressure plate carrier. The display device
can comprise a card wherein a pivoting of a cover member relative
to a base member induces animation as an animation layer slides in
relation to the pressure plate.
Inventors: |
Seder; Rufus Butler (Boston,
MA) |
Family
ID: |
34806886 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/031,873 |
Filed: |
January 7, 2005 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20050183300 A1 |
Aug 25, 2005 |
|
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
60534894 |
Jan 8, 2004 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/473; 283/117;
40/488; 40/445 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09F
11/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06T
15/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;345/473
;40/375,436,445,453,488,491,495 ;283/115,117 ;434/405 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Nguyen; Phu K.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: O'Connell Law Firm
Parent Case Text
This application claims benefit of application Ser. No. 60/534,894
filed on Jan. 8, 2004.
Claims
I claim as deserving the protection of Letters Patent:
1. A moveable animated display device for displaying a plurality of
images, the display device comprising: a pressure plate carrier; a
pressure plate retained in relation to the pressure plate carrier;
a plurality of coded images; a plurality of shutter elements
slidably retained in relation to the plurality of coded images
wherein the plurality of shutter elements and the plurality of
coded images are disposed to a display side of the moveable
animated display device whereby the plurality of coded images and
the plurality of shutter elements can be slid in relation to one
another to produce an animation of the moveable animated display
device in an animation area; and at least one biasing formation in
the pressure plate for inducing a biasing of at least a portion of
the pressure plate toward the pressure plate carrier.
2. The moveable animated display device of claim 1 wherein the
pressure plate is formed from a resiliently deflectable material
and wherein the at least one biasing formation in the pressure
plate comprises a crease formation in the pressure plate.
3. The moveable animated display device of claim 1 wherein the at
least one biasing formation is formed to the display side of the
moveable animated display device.
4. The moveable animated display device of claim 3 further
comprising a second biasing formation in the pressure plate wherein
the second biasing formation is formed to the display side of the
moveable animated display device and wherein the biasing formations
are disposed outboard of the animation area of the moveable
animated display device.
5. The moveable animated display device of claim 1 wherein the
plurality of coded images are disposed on one of the pressure plate
carrier or the pressure plate, wherein the plurality of shutter
elements are disposed on the other of the pressure plate carrier or
the pressure plate, and wherein the pressure plate carrier is
slidably retained in relation to the pressure plate.
6. The moveable animated display device of claim 5 wherein there
are at least two biasing formations wherein a first biasing
formation is formed to the display side of the moveable animated
display device and wherein a second biasing formation is formed to
an obverse side of the moveable animated display device.
7. The moveable animated display device of claim 5 wherein there
are at least two biasing formations in the pressure plate wherein
the biasing formations are formed to the display side of the
moveable animated display device and wherein the biasing formations
are disposed outboard of the animation area of the moveable
animated display device.
8. The moveable animated display device of claim 5 wherein the at
least one biasing formation is formed to the display side of the
moveable animated display device and wherein the biasing formation
is orthogonal to a path of travel of the pressure plate in relation
to the pressure plate carrier.
9. The moveable animated display device of claim 8 wherein there
are at least two biasing formations and wherein the at least two
biasing formations are disposed outboard of the animation area of
the moveable animated display device orthogonal to a path of travel
of the pressure plate in relation to the pressure plate
carrier.
10. The moveable animated display device of claim 5 wherein the
pressure plate has a header portion and a footer portion and
further comprising opposed tabs that project inboard from the
header portion and the footer portion of the pressure plate whereby
the pressure plate can be slidably engaged with the pressure plate
carrier with the tabs disposed to an obverse side of the moveable
animated display device while a body portion of the pressure plate
is disposed to the display side of the moveable animated display
device.
11. The moveable animated display device of claim 1 further
comprising an animation layer with at least a portion thereof
slidably interposed between the pressure plate and the pressure
plate carrier and wherein one of the plurality of coded images and
the plurality of shutter elements is disposed on the animation
layer.
12. The moveable animated display device of claim 11 wherein the
other of the plurality of coded images and the plurality of shutter
elements is disposed on the pressure plate.
13. The moveable animated display device of claim 11 wherein there
are at least two biasing formations in the pressure plate wherein
the biasing formations are formed to the display side of the
moveable animated display device and wherein the biasing formations
are disposed outboard of the animation area of the moveable
animated display device.
14. The moveable animated display device of claim 13 wherein the
pressure plate is formed from a resiliently deflectable material
and wherein the biasing formations in the pressure plate comprise
crease formations in the pressure plate.
15. The moveable animated display device of claim 11 further
comprising registration marks disposed on the pressure plate and
corresponding registration marks disposed on the animation layer
for enabling an accurate alignment of the plurality of coded images
in relation to the plurality of shutter elements.
16. The moveable animated display device of claim 11 further
comprising opposed projections coupled to the pressure plate
carrier for guiding and aligning the animation layer in relation to
the pressure plate and the pressure plate carrier.
17. The moveable animated display device of claim 11 further
comprising a base member and a cover member wherein the cover
member is hingedly coupled at a proximal portion thereof to a
proximal portion of the base member wherein one of the animation
layer and the pressure plate carrier is coupled to a distal portion
of the base member and wherein the other of the animation layer and
the pressure plate carrier is hingedly coupled to the cover member
distally in relation to the hinged coupling of the cover member to
the base member whereby a pivoting of the cover member in relation
to the base member will induce a sliding of the pressure plate
carrier in relation to the animation layer thereby to produce an
animation effect as the plurality of shutter elements sequentially
complete the plurality of coded images.
18. The moveable animated display device of claim 17 wherein the
base member, the cover member, the pressure plate carrier, and the
animation layer each comprises a panel of material.
19. The moveable animated display device of claim 18 wherein there
is a hinged coupling along a fold line between at least two of the
base member, the cover member, the pressure plate carrier, and the
animation layer and further comprising a line of surface variations
disposed along at least a portion of the fold line for inducing an
accurate location and alignment of the fold line.
20. The moveable animated display device of claim 19 wherein the
line of surface variations comprises a line of perforations.
21. A moveable animated display device for displaying a plurality
of images, the display device comprising: a base member with a
proximal edge and a distal edge; a cover member with a proximal
edge and a distal edge wherein the proximal edge of the cover
member is hingedly coupled to the proximal edge of the base member;
a first panel coupled to the base member; a second panel coupled to
the cover member in a location displaced from the proximal edge of
the cover member whereby a pivoting of the cover member in relation
to the base member will induce a relative movement of the first
panel relative to the second panel; a plurality of coded images
retained relative to one of the first panel and the second panel;
and a plurality of shutter elements retained relative to the other
of the first panel and the second panel; whereby a relative
movement of the first panel relative to the second panel will
produce an animation of the moveable animated display device in an
animation area.
22. The moveable animated display device of claim 21 further
comprising a pressure plate coupled to one of the first panel and
the second panel whereby the other of the first panel and the
second panel can be received between the pressure plate and the
first panel or the second panel.
23. The moveable animated display device of claim 22 further
comprising at least one biasing formation in the pressure plate for
inducing a biasing of at least a portion of the pressure plate.
24. The moveable animated display device of claim 23 wherein the
pressure plate is formed from a resiliently deflectable material
and wherein the at least one biasing formation in the pressure
plate comprises a crease formation in the pressure plate.
25. The moveable animated display device of claim 21 further
comprising registration marks disposed on the pressure plate and
corresponding registration marks disposed on the panel to which the
pressure plate is coupled for enabling an accurate alignment of the
plurality of coded images in relation to the plurality of shutter
elements.
26. The moveable animated display device of claim 21 further
comprising opposed projections coupled to the panel to which the
pressure plate is coupled for guiding and aligning the other of the
first and second panels in relation to the pressure plate.
27. The moveable animated display device of claim 21 wherein each
of the base member, the cover member, the first panel, and the
second panel comprises a panel of material.
28. The moveable animated display device of claim 27 wherein there
is a hinged coupling along a fold line between at least two of the
base member, the cover member, the first panel, and the second
panel and further comprising a line of surface variations disposed
along at least a portion of the fold line for inducing an accurate
location and alignment of the fold line.
29. The moveable animated display device of claim 28 wherein the
line of surface variations comprises a line of perforations.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to display devices. More
particularly, disclosed herein is a moveable animated display
device for displaying a plurality of images in response to a
movement of a shutter member relative to an image member.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Devices permitting the sequential display of a plurality of coded
images by relative movement of an image member relative to a
shutter member have been known for many years. The image member has
a plurality of interposed coded images disposed thereon while the
shutter member has a plurality of shutter elements disposed thereon
that are separated by a plurality of viewing elements. The shutter
elements perform the dual functions of selectively blocking from
view all but one of the interposed coded images while bridging the
gaps between the coded strips that form what can be termed an
active image. With this, the plurality of shutter elements decode
the active image of the plurality of coded images, and the active
image appears to be a complete, coherent image.
When the image member and the shutter member undergo relative
movement by a predetermined amount, the strips of the previously
active image are concealed and the next succeeding coded image
assumes the fleeting position as an active image. This procedure
will continue through a cycle of all coded images that are disposed
on the image member. Once the cycle is complete, the first coded
image will again appear to start a new, identical cycle. The number
of unique coded images is mathematically limited by the width of
the shutter element relative to the width of the strips that form
the coded images. Stated more particularly, the number of coded
images cannot exceed one plus the result of the width of each
shutter element divided by the width of each coded image strip.
As one knowledgeable in the art will appreciate, the ability of a
display device to display images with clarity and resolution is
dependent not only on the number of discrete images that can be
displayed but also on the ability of the device to obtain precise
registration and alignment between the coded images and the shutter
elements and to maintain that precise registration during relative
movement within the device. Just as critical to the performance of
such display devices is the ability of the device to induce and
maintain close contact between the shutter elements and the coded
images over their entire display surfaces.
Lack of complete contact between the shutter elements and the coded
images creates thin air pockets between the layers thereby creating
undesirable shadows that diminish the observer's ability to
perceive the display image. Incomplete contact also results in an
undesirable parallax viewing conflict where multiple images can be
perceived due to the ability of the observer to see around and,
therefore, behind the shutter elements.
Where complete contact between the shutter elements and the coded
images can not be achieved, the intended animation effect will be
frustrated and, additionally or alternatively, the designer will be
forced to compensate by implementing a design with sufficiently few
animation phases to eliminate the viewing conflicts and other
resulting disadvantages. Conversely, where better contact can be
achieved, more phases of animation are possible thereby enabling
more advanced and intricate animation sequences.
The prior art has employed numerous arrangements including
corrective spring-loaded pressure plates, bent tab systems, and
similarly complex arrangements in seeking to achieve and maintain
precise alignment and consistently close contact between shutter
element and coded image layers. Such arrangements have worked to
some degree of success but have proven to be bulky, expensive,
complex in structure and function, and often unreliable. These and
further factors have limited and even entirely prevented the
ability of such devices to achieve widespread market success
including relative to the advertising, direct mail, greeting card,
book, magazine, packaging, and other markets.
The present inventor advanced this art with, among other things,
the disclosure provided by his U.S. Pat. No. 5,901,484 for a
Manually-Operated Moveable Display Device and his U.S. Pat. No.
6,286,873 for a Visual Display Device With Continuous Animation,
each being incorporated herein by reference. The '484 patent
presented solutions to many of the deficiencies of the prior art
with its disclosure of an arrangement with inner and outer
cylinders having coded images and shutter elements imprinted
thereon and with creases formed in the cylinders such that the
cylinders themselves exert a contact pressure therebetween by
virtue of their being formed from a resilient material. Such
arrangements have represented advantageous improvements due their
simplicity and effectiveness and their ability to be employed in
markets that have been inaccessible to the prior art.
Nonetheless, it has become clear that there remains a need for new
moveable display device constructions that are still flatter and
more compact to enable, among other things, their use in
applications where moveable display devices previously could not be
applied. Of course, it would also be an advantageous improvement to
provide moveable display devices that are simple and inexpensive in
structure and function while being able to achieve and maintain
accurate alignment and close contact between a shutter element
layer and a coded image layer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Advantageously, the present invention is founded upon a basic
object of providing a moveable animated display device that
overcomes the disadvantages of prior art moveable display
devices.
A more particular object of the invention is to provide a moveable
display device that can achieve a relatively flat and compact
configuration.
A further object of the invention is to provide a moveable display
device that achieves and maintains accurate registration and close
contact between a shutter element layer and a coded image
layer.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a moveable
display device that is capable of displaying a plurality of sharp
and intricate images that change from one to another in a fluidic
manner.
A further object of embodiments of the invention is to provide a
moveable display device that can be hand held and manually
operable.
Yet another object of particular embodiments of the invention is to
accomplish these goals in a moveable display device that is can be
simple in structure, operation, and manufacture.
These and still further objects and advantages of the invention
will be readily apparent not only to one who reviews the present
specification and drawings but also to one who has the opportunity
to enjoy the use of an embodiment of the present invention for a
moveable animated display device.
One will appreciate that the foregoing outlines certain features of
the invention merely to enable a better understanding of the
detailed description that follows and to instill a better
appreciation of the inventor's contribution to the art. Before an
embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it must be made
clear that the following details of construction, descriptions of
geometry, and illustrations of inventive concepts are mere examples
of the many possible manifestations of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings:
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view in side elevation of an embodiment
of a moveable animated display device according to the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a moveable
animated display device pursuant to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a first side of yet another embodiment
of a moveable animated display device according to the present
invention in a pre-assembly configuration;
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a second side of the moveable animated
display device of FIG. 3 again in a pre-assembly configuration;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the moveable animated display
device of FIGS. 3 and 4 in a partially assembled configuration;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view in side elevation of another
embodiment of a moveable animated display device;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view in side elevation of still another
embodiment of a moveable animated display device under the present
invention;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view in side elevation of a further
embodiment of a moveable animated display device under the present
invention;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a variation of the moveable
animated display device of FIGS. 3 and 4, again in a partially
assembled configuration;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a moveable
animated display device as taught herein in a disassembled
configuration;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the moveable animated display
device of FIG. 10 in an assembled configuration;
FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the moveable animated display device
of FIG. 10 in operation;
FIG. 13A is a cross-sectional view of the moveable animated display
device taken along the line 13--13 in FIG. 11 in an uncompressed
condition; and
FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view of the moveable animated display
device taken along the line 13--13 in FIG. 11 in a compressed
condition.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention for a moveable animated display device is
subject to widely varied embodiments. However, to ensure that one
skilled in the art will be able to understand and, in appropriate
cases, practice the present invention, certain preferred
embodiments of the broader invention revealed herein are described
below and shown in the accompanying drawing figures.
Looking more particularly to the drawings, an exemplary embodiment
of a moveable animated display device according to the present
invention is shown in simplified form in FIG. 1 where the device is
indicated generally at 10. There, the moveable animated display
device 10 is founded on what may be termed a pressure plate carrier
12. A pressure plate 14 has first and second end portions fixed to
the pressure plate carrier 12 by any appropriate means, such as
adhesive strips 16 as shown in FIG. 1, mechanical fasteners,
frictional retention, or any other effective arrangement. A
relatively moveable animation layer 18 has at least a portion
thereof slidably interposed between the pressure plate 14 and the
pressure plate carrier 12.
As FIG. 2 shows, the pressure plate 14 can have shutter elements 24
disposed thereon while the animation layer 18 can have coded images
26 disposed thereon. It should be noted, of course, that the
relative disposition of the shutter elements 24 and the coded
images 26 could be readily interchanged such that the coded images
26 could be disposed on the pressure plate 14 and the shutter
elements 24 could be disposed on the animation layer 18. The
depicted disposition of the shutter elements 24 and the coded
images 26, while possibly preferred under certain arrangements, is
merely exemplary. Particularly where the coded images 26 and the
shutter elements 24 have been printed with the same color ink, the
animated effect will be similar regardless of which is imprinted on
or otherwise applied or coupled to the pressure plate 14 and which
is imprinted on or otherwise applied or coupled to the animation
layer 18. It will be equally clear that the depicted coded images
26, namely a series of heart designs, are mere examples of the
infinite variety of coded images 26 possible under the present
invention.
It should be clear that the plurality of shutter elements 24 may
assume a wide variety of shapes including straight bars, curving
bars, apertured opaque portions, and any other functioning
configuration. Naturally, the shapes of the coded images 26 would
correspond to the shapes of the shutter elements 26. The plurality
of viewing elements interposed between the shutter elements 24
could comprise open slots, transparent bars, or any other means
that would allow a selective viewing of the coded images 26.
In any case, a movement of the animation layer 18 relative to the
pressure plate 14 and thus the pressure plate carrier 12 will
induce the moveable animated display device 10 to exhibit animation
as the shutter elements 24 act to complete successive coded images
26 to translate the coded images 26 into a series of coherent
images. As noted previously, achieving close and consistent contact
between the image carrying layer, in this example the animation
layer 18, and the shutter element carrying layer, in this case the
pressure plate 14, is crucial to obtaining smooth and crisp image
displays and transitions between images. The present invention
achieves that close contact between the imaging portions of the
pressure plate 14 and the animation layer 18 by, among other
things, the formation of first and second biasing formations 20 and
22 in the pressure plate 14 such that the pressure plate 14 acts as
its own spring-loaded biasing arrangement.
In this example, the biasing formations 20 and 22 comprise creases
in the pressure plate 14 that are disposed in an essentially
parallel disposition. However, one will appreciate that numerous
other biasing formations 20 and 22 could be effective in biasing
the central, imaging portion of the pressure plate 14 into close
contact with the animation layer 18 and the pressure plate carrier
12. By way of example and not limitation, properly formed curves,
bends, and still other configurations and mechanisms could induce
the desired biasing and, as such, are well within the scope of the
present invention. It should also be clear that embodiments of the
invention are possible where just one or more than two biasing
formations 20 and 22 could be employed. Under the exemplary
constructions of FIGS. 1 and 2, the display device 10 exploits the
leverage exerted by the crease biasing formations 20 and 22 to
achieve and maintain close contact between the pressure plate 14,
the animation layer 18, and the pressure plate carrier 12.
The components of the display device 10 could be formed from
numerous different materials. In one presently contemplated
embodiment, the pressure plate 14 is formed from a resiliently
deflectable material, which can comprise a polymeric material. Even
more particularly, the pressure plate 14 can be formed from a
flexible die-cut transparent piece of medium-weight acetate or a
similar clear or translucent material imprinted with opaque shutter
elements 24. The animation layer 18, which in this embodiment
carries the coded images 26, can be formed of any suitable
material. The material can be opaque or, in certain embodiments,
clear or translucent. In one example, the animation layer 18 can be
formed from paper card stock. To facilitate a smooth sliding of the
animation layer 18 relative to the pressure plate 14 and the
pressure plate carrier 12, the animation layer 18 can have
parallel, smooth, and straight opposed side edges.
As FIG. 2 shows, the pressure plate 14 can have a plurality of
encircled "X" registration marks 28 disposed thereon while the
animation layer 18 can have a plurality of corresponding "cross"
registration marks 30 disposed thereon. The registration marks 28
and 30 can ensure an accurate initial alignment of the shutter
elements 24 of the pressure plate 14 relative to the coded images
26 of the animation layer 18. More particularly, by use of the
registration marks 28 and 30, the alignment of the pressure plate
14 relative to the animation layer 18 can be confirmed based on an
alignment of the centers of the "X" registration marks 28 with the
centers of the "cross" registration marks 30. In certain
embodiments, as is shown in FIGS. 2 through 5, micro alignment
strips 32, 33, 34, and 35 can additionally be provided on the
pressure plate 14 and the animation layer 18 to enable still more
accurate relative alignment.
As one can perceive by reference to FIGS. 3 through 5, opposed tabs
46 and 48 can maintain the animation layer 18 in proper orientation
and alignment relative to the pressure plate 14 and can ensure that
the animation layer 18 slides in perpendicular relation to the
shutter elements 24 of the pressure plate 14. The tabs 46 and 48
can project inboard from the pressure plate carrier 12 to overlie
the animation layer 18 when the display device 10 is fully
assembled. While there can be substantially any number of opposed
tabs 46 and 48, one presently preferred embodiment has two tabs 46
disposed to a first side of the animation layer 18 and two tabs 48
disposed to a second side of the animation layer 18. The tabs 46
and 48 can be affixed to the pressure plate carrier 12, or, as is
shown in FIGS. 3 through 5, they can be formed integrally
therewith, as by a die cutting process.
During assembly of the display device 10, the animation layer 18
can be applied to the pressure plate carrier 12 by being caused to
underlie the tabs 46 and 48. The pressure plate 14 can then be
positioned over the pressure plate carrier 12 with the biasing
formations 20 and 22 pointing outward such that the convex portion
of the pressure plate 14 faces the animation layer 18 and the
pressure plate carrier 12. The registration marks 28 on the
pressure plate 14 should then be exactly aligned with the
registration marks 30 on the animation layer 18. While maintaining
that precise alignment, the pressure plate 14 can then be adhered
to the first adhesive strip 16 near the first edge of the pressure
plate carrier 12 and then, while keeping the pressure plate 14 as
flat as possible, the pressure plate 14 can be adhered to the
second adhesive strip 16 near the second edge of the pressure plate
carrier 12.
With that, the animation layer 18 will be effectively sandwiched
between the pressure plate 14 and the pressure plate carrier 12 and
will be viewable through the pressure plate 14 as the animation
layer 18 is held snugly by the pressure plate 14 against the
pressure plate carrier 12. Under this arrangement, the pressure
plate 14 can be held in tension by the adhesive strips 16 and can
ensure complete contact between the animation portion of the
pressure plate 14 and the animation layer 18. The relationship of
the tabs 46 and 48 of the pressure plate carrier 12 and the edges
of the animation layer 18 ensure accurate alignment and
slideability.
For optimal image display, the animation layer 18 should maintain
registration relative to the pressure plate 14 while demonstrating
minimal "wiggle" during movement. It has been found that these can
be competing characteristics. In practice, an ideal spacing between
the tabs 46 and 48 and the edges of the animation layer 18 can
often be found through trial and error while designing the display
device 10 and the tools, such as cutting dies, that will be used in
manufacture. Different thicknesses and textures of the substrate,
such as card stock, may require different die cutting tolerances.
In any case, the edges of the animation layer 18 should be cut as
straight and smooth as possible since rough edges may inhibit free
sliding of the animation layer 18 relative to the tabs 46 and 48.
In practice, it may be possible to ensure proper registration and
an ease of sliding by a "tweaking" of the four tabs 46 and 48, such
as by bending them slightly upward or downward or otherwise
manipulating them. Ideally, however, a properly adjusted tolerance
will eliminate any need for manipulation.
As mentioned previously, animation will occur as relative movement
is carried out between the animation layer 18 and the pressure
plate 14 to cause the coded images 26 to be sequentially completed
and rendered coherent by the shutter elements 24. Relative movement
could be achieved by inducing the animation layer 18 to travel
while the pressure plate carrier 12, which has the pressure plate
14 fixed thereto, remains motionless. Alternatively, relative
movement could be triggered by inducing the pressure plate carrier
12, which has the pressure plate 14 fixed thereto, to travel while
the animation layer 18 remains motionless. Still further, relative
movement could be realized by simultaneous movements of the
pressure plate carrier 12 and the animation layer 18 either in
opposite directions or in the same direction at different speeds.
The relative movement could be caused by a motorized arrangement or
manually.
It will be noted that attaining and maintaining consistent
registration between the animation layer 18 and the pressure plate
carrier 12 can be achieved by a number of different arrangements.
Of course, it can be achieved pursuant to the abovedescribed
arrangement wherein a smooth-sided animation layer 18 is guided by
tabs 46 and 48 that overlie it from the pressure plate carrier 12
disposed therebelow. Alternatively, however, the animation layer 18
could forego the smooth sides and instead have a plurality of tabs
extending therefrom for insertion into precut slots in the pressure
plate carrier 12.
One skilled in the art will find numerous applications for
arrangements taking advantage of the aforedescribed invention. Each
such application should be considered to be well within the scope
of the present invention. One example of the many applications of
the invention is shown in FIGS. 3 through 5 and 9 where the display
device 10 takes the form of a card, such as a greeting card, an
invitation, an announcement, an advertisement, any other possible
type of card. In FIG. 3, the display device 10 is shown in a
pre-assembly format from a first side. FIG. 4 again shows the
display device 10 in a pre-assembly format but from a second side.
FIG. 5 shows the display device 10 in a partially assembled format,
and FIG. 9 shows a variation on the card version of the display
device 10.
In FIGS. 3 through 5, the display device 10 has a base foundation
panel 40 that is hingedly coupled at a first side edge to the
animation layer 18, at a second side edge to a first side edge of a
first cover panel 38, and at an upper edge to a shield panel 42.
The first cover panel 38 has a second side edge hingedly coupled to
a first side edge of a second cover panel 36, and the second cover
panel 36 has a second side edge hingedly coupled to the pressure
plate carrier 12. The first cover panel 38, the second cover panel
36, and the shield panel 42 each have cutouts 44 formed therein
that correspond to, and ultimately align with, the coded images 26.
As FIG. 4 shows, the second cover panel 36 can have an adhesive
strip 50 disposed thereon for enabling it to affix to the first
cover panel 38. Similarly, the base foundation panel 40 has an
adhesive strip 52 disposed thereon for enabling it to affix to the
shield panel 42.
The display device 10 can thus be formed into the configuration
depicted in FIG. 5 by a folding over and affixing of the panels 36,
38, 40, and 42. As one will appreciate, the animation layer 18 in
FIG. 5 is shown pivoted outside of the pressure plate 14 for
clarity of the construction of the display device 10 only. It would
normally already be slidably retained under the pressure plate 14.
Also for clarity, only a portion of the shutter elements 24 are
shown in FIG. 5. Still further, the shield panel 42 is shown in an
upright position for clarity only. Normally, it would be affixed by
the adhesive strip 52 overlying the pressure plate 14, the
animation layer 18, and other components of the display device 10
essentially leaving only the imaging portion of the display device
10 exposed for viewing through the cutout 44, which in this example
happens to be in the shape of a heart.
From FIG. 5, one will appreciate that the second cover panel 36 is
narrower than the first cover panel 38. As a result, the edge of
the pressure plate carrier 12, which extends from the edge of the
second cover panel 36, is displaced from the hinged connection of
the first cover panel 38 with the base foundation panel 40. Under
this arrangement, a pivoting of the structure formed by the first
and second cover panels 38 and 36, which essentially comprises the
cover of the card, will induce a movement of the pressure plate
carrier 12 relative to the animation panel 18 thereby inducing an
animation display by the display device 10 as described
previously.
As one will appreciate by reference to FIG. 9, the animation layer
18 and the pressure plate carrier 12 could be disposed in an
essentially opposite manner than that of FIGS. 3 through 5. More
particularly, the base foundation panel 40 is coupled to the first
cover panel 38 and to the shield panel 42 as before but is hingedly
coupled at its first side edge to the pressure plate carrier 12
instead of the animation layer 18 as in FIGS. 3 through 5. The
animation layer 18 can replace the pressure plate carrier 12 as the
component hingedly coupled to the second side edge of the second
cover panel 36. The display device 10 can be otherwise essentially
identical to the previously described embodiment.
Of course, it will be appreciated that the depicted arrangement of
the first and second cover panels 38 and 36 combining to provide
the pressure plate carrier 12 or the animation layer 18 with a
hinged coupling displaced from the hinged coupling of the second
cover panel 38 relative to the base foundation panel 40 is merely
exemplary. One skilled in the art will be aware of numerous other
arrangements for creating a displaced pivoting of the pressure
plate carrier 12 or the animation layer 18 in relation to a cover
panel, such as that formed by the combination of the first and
second cover panels 38 and 36. Each arrangement is within the scope
of the present invention.
It will again be noted that accurate alignment and precise
registration of the shutter elements 24 in relation to the coded
images 26 are critical to the optimal performance of the display
device. However, achieving that alignment and registration is
challenging including in particular the embodiments of FIGS. 3 5
and 9. Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be noted that,
prior to assembly, the pressure plate carrier 12 and the animation
layer 18 are separated by a plurality of folds that must be made to
bring the components into slidable association. For the shutter
elements 24 and the coded images 26 to be aligned and for the
display device 10 to open and close properly, the folds between the
animation layer 18, the base foundation panel 40, the first cover
panel 38, the second cover panel 26, and the pressure plate carrier
12 must be made precisely in location and orientation. An improper
location or orientation of one fold will inherently affect the
location or orientation of the remaining folds, potentially with a
magnifying effect, thereby producing a display device 10 that may
not operate or animate properly.
It has been found that achieving consistently precise locating and
orientating of the folds in the display device 10 is difficult in
relation to a plain blank of material. Furthermore, even where the
folds are initiated in precise locations and orientations, such as
by stamping or similar operations, the nature of many substrates,
such as card stock, is that the resulting fold itself tends to be
relatively wide and imprecise. The width and imprecision of such
folds derogates from the accuracy with which the display device 10
can be assembled and operated.
Through experimentation, the present inventor has discovered that
folds of improved accuracy and precision can be achieved by the
creation of a series of perforations, notches, scorings,
serrations, or other aligned surface variations in the substrate
having the desired location and orientation of the fold. In FIGS. 3
5 and 9, for example, the folds between the animation layer 18, the
base foundation panel 40, the first cover panel 38, the second
cover panel 26, and the pressure plate carrier 12 have perforated
lines 45 therebetween. The perforated lines 45 are disposed in
precise location and orientation. With this, when, for example, the
animation layer 18 is folded in relation to the base foundation
panel 40, the fold therebetween will tend to be exactly along the
perforated line 45. The resulting fold is, therefore, narrower and
more precise than the fold that would have resulted absent the
aligned surface variations, which in this example comprise the
perforations that form the perforated line 45.
It will be noted that the nature of the surface variations may vary
depending on a number of factors including the nature of the
substrate employed and the desired characteristics and durability
of the resulting product. For example, in certain embodiments or in
relation to certain folds, relatively large perforations can form
the perforated line 45. In other embodiments, however, the
roughness and reduction of durability that can derive from
relatively large perforations may be undesirable and may warrant
the use of relatively small perforations. Also, it will again be
noted that perforations are merely exemplary, other surface
variations may be employed to similar effect.
Again, many further embodiments of the invention are possible.
FIGS. 6 and 7 show alternative constructions of the display device
10 wherein the display device 10 can be formed by essentially just
two elements, namely, a pressure plate 14 and a pressure plate
carrier, which can alternatively be termed a base member 15. The
base member 15 can be a rigid panel of material and can have smooth
first and second edges. In certain examples, the base member 15 can
be a card of any type including, by way of example, a credit card,
an advertising card, a membership card, a gift card, an
identification card, a novelty card, and any other type of card.
The pressure plate 14 can again have biasing formations 20 and 22
disposed adjacent to the edges of the base member 15 for biasing
the central portion of the pressure plate 14 into close contact
with the adjacent face of the base member 15.
As FIG. 6 shows, the pressure plate 14 can in certain embodiments
wrap entirely around the base member 15 and can have distal ends
affixed together. Alternatively, as FIG. 7 shows, the pressure
plate 14 can have simple clip portions 11 and 13 that overlie the
edges of the base member 15. In either case, coded images 26 can be
disposed on one of the pressure plate 14 or the adjacent face of
the base member 15 while shutter elements 24 can be disposed on the
other of the pressure plate 14 and the base member 15. Under such a
construction, animation can be achieved with close contact and
accurate alignment between the pressure plate 14 and the base
member 15 by a simple sliding of the pressure plate 14 relative to
the base member 15.
The first and second biasing formations 20 and 22, which are to
what can be termed the display side of the display device 10, may
well induce sufficient contact between the imaging portion of the
pressure plate 14 and the base member 15. In certain embodiments,
however, still better contact may be achieved by providing third
and, possibly, fourth biasing formations 21 and 23 to the obverse
side of the display device 10. Such a construction is depicted in
FIG. 8. There, the pressure plate 15 wraps entirely around the base
member 15 and third and fourth biasing formations 21 and 23 are
formed to the obverse side of the display device 10 adjacent to the
edges thereof. The third and fourth biasing formations 21 and 23
can cooperate with the first and second biasing formations 20 and
22 to induce enhanced contact between the display portions of the
pressure plate 14 and the base member 15. Again, the biasing
formations 20, 21, 22, and 23 are shown as elongate creases in the
pressure plate 14. However, numerous other formations, each within
the scope of the present invention, could operate with similar
effect.
A further variation of a display device 10 wherein a pressure plate
14 combines with a pressure plate carrier comprising a base member
15 to produce animation is depicted in FIGS. 10 12, 13A, and 13B.
The pressure plate 14 again has first and second biasing formations
20 and 22 for inducing complete contact between animation portions
of the pressure plate 14 and the base member 15. However, the
biasing formations 20 and 22 are formed adjacent to the opposed
ends of the pressure plate 14 and generally perpendicular to the
path of travel of the pressure plate 14 in relation to the base
member 15.
The pressure plate 14 has a plurality of tabs 54 projecting inboard
from a header portion 58 and a footer portion 60. The tabs 54
project in general opposition from a distance slightly greater than
a width of the base member 15 to a distance less than the width of
the base member 15. With this, the pressure plate 14 can be
slidably engaged with the base member 15 by causing the tabs 54 to
be disposed to the obverse side of the base member 15 while the
body portion of the pressure plate 14 is disposed to the display
side of the base member 15.
With combined reference to FIGS. 12, 13A, and 13B, it can be seen
that an animation of the display device 10 can be achieved by a
user's grasping the display device 10 with the user's left and
right hands 100A and 100B with the user's left and right thumbs
102A and 102B preferably disposed on or near locator marks 55 and
56, which coincide with central portions of the biasing formations
20 and 22. The user can induce the display device 10 from the
uncompressed condition of FIG. 13A to the compressed condition of
FIG. 13B by pressing on the locator marks 55 and 56. When the
display device 10 is so compressed, the animation portions of the
pressure plate 14 and the base member 15 are induced into full
contact not only by the pressing on the locator marks 55 and 56 but
also by the force of the opposed tabs 54. Clear animation can then
be accomplished by sliding the pressure plate 14 in relation to the
base member 15.
With a plurality of exemplary embodiments and details of the
present invention for a moveable animated display device disclosed
10, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that numerous
changes and additions could be made thereto without deviating from
the spirit or scope of the invention. This is particularly true
when one bears in mind that the presently preferred embodiments
merely exemplify the broader invention revealed herein. Those with
major features of the invention in mind could craft embodiments
that incorporate those major features while not incorporating all
of the features included in the preferred embodiments.
Therefore, the following claims are intended to define the scope of
protection to be afforded to the inventor. Those claims shall be
deemed to include equivalent constructions insofar as they do not
depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. It must be
further noted that a plurality of the following claims may express
certain elements as means for performing a specific function, at
times without the recital of structure or material. As the law
demands, such claim elements shall be construed to cover not only
the corresponding structure and material expressly described in
this specification but also all equivalents thereof.
* * * * *